UPDATE 3-Cricket-South Africa fight back against England

Reuters

(Updates with quotes)

By Richard Sydenham

LONDON, July 20 (Reuters) - South Africa fought back againstEngland on the second day of the first test on Friday, firstwith the ball and then the bat, to close on 86 for one afterbowling England out for 385.

Captain Graeme Smith, playing his 100th test match, was 37not out and Hashim Amla was on 47 after being dropped on 40 byfirst slip Andrew Strauss off Ravi Bopara. Alviro Petersen wentfor a duck, lbw to James Anderson with just one on thescoreboard.

The second-wicket partnership between Smith and Amla cappeda much-needed improvement by the tourists after a lethargicdisplay on day one, when England were mostly in control.

Morne Morkel finished off the England innings with four for72, while a reenergised Dale Steyn and veteran Jacques Kallisclaimed two wickets apiece. Alastair Cook added just one run tohis overnight score to depart for 115 and Matt Prior added avital 60 from 90 balls.

It was an impressive comeback by the Proteas after Englandresumed on 267 for three. The bowling was more accurate andaggressive, although bowling conditions were better with the sunbeing replaced by cloud cover.

â"It was needed," Morkel told reporters "âWe knew the firsthour was key and we had to get early wickets. All credit must goto Vernon (Philander) and Dale - the way they bowled wasfantastic.

â"The great thing about Dale is that he is number one in theworld and you know he can deliver something special at any time.Dale put the peg in the ground and showed the way for us tofollow."

Prior's innings was a vital contribution as England, at onepoint, looked as if they were going to collapse at 313 for sevenas the Proteas squeezed them with some tight, penetrativebowling.

Prior struggled early on but after lunch was more fluent,hitting three fours in six balls in one sequence. Prior reachedhis fifty by straight driving Vernon Philander for four.

He was eventually Morkel's third victim and was also one ofAB de Villiers' five catches, which would please the team havinglost the services of veteran wicketkeeper Mark Boucher to afreak eye injury on the first day of the tour.

â"The ball certainly did a bit more (than on day one) thismorning," Prior said. "âWe knew South Africa were going to comehard again, which they did, and we had to steady the ship.

â"We have a good score on that wicket. The way that wicketis changing, I think 350 is almost a par score. We are in a verygood position and a lot will depend on tomorrow morning. We havethe bowlers to do the job for us."

Cook was the first man to fall in the day when he dragged afull-length ball from Steyn back on to his off stump. Steyn thenpicked up Ravi Bopara, making his latest comeback, for a duckwhen he mistimed a hook shot and edged to the keeper.

Ian Bell was bowled for 13 by Kallis after some clever swingand seam bowling that outfoxed the batsman. Stuart Broad (16)and Graeme Swann (15 not out) chipped in down the order.

Despite taking only the one wicket, England would at leasthave been encouraged by occasional evidence of sharp spin fromSwann and uneven bounce.